Friday, Jun 13, 2003
Friday, Jun 13, 2003 |
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Kerala
By Our Staff Reporter
The day was marked by high drama which commenced with a band of KC men under the leadership of their MPs and MLAs and other leaders coming to take over the office which was under the control of the faction led by P. C. George. According to the version given by the official group, nearly 10 persons were in the office at that time. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. According to the police, they feared a law and order situation following the new development and informed the civil authorities who rushed to the spot and initiated steps to take over the premises to ward off a possible law and order situation. The tahsildar, who was present on the spot on the directive of the RDO, said he had issued notices to both the parties to present themselves before the sub-divisional magistrate on June 19 to make their claims. Meanwhile, Mr. P.C. George, who was in Thiruvananthapuram, was informed of the developments and he rushed to Kottayam. Later, speaking to media persons, Mr. George raised serious allegations of criminal offences against two LDF MPs, Francis George and Vakkachan Mattathil (both from the KC-J), who, according to him, physically assaulted the office boy. The boy has been admitted to the Kottayam District Hospital, he said. He also alleged the direct involvement of the Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, in today's drama and said the presence of the tahsildar early in the morning and the police action were clear pointers to his involvement in the Government takeover. He, however, did not disclose what steps his party would take in the future to take back the office. Later, the KC(J) leaders, K. C. Joseph, MLA, Francis George, Vakkachan Mattathil (both MPs), the treasurer, George Sebastian, and others denied the charges and said the office boy had been with them until he had been allowed to go, with the permission of senior police officers, on his own request. They also alleged that the Government was being partial to the George faction. The authorities had allowed them (the George faction) to hold on to the office till today, and the moment they (the official faction) had taken over the office, the authorities had swung into action and denied them their legitimate rights, they alleged. Even as the mudslinging between the rival groups showed no signs of abating, it appeared that the LDF was being pushed to a spot. Mr. George, who had pushed himself to a corner when he owned up his parleys with the CMP leader on behalf of the LDF during the Rajya Sabha imbroglio, has once again stirred up a hornet's nest by raising a serious criminal allegation by two of the LDF MPs. Today's takeover of the building may also be a bone of contention as both of them can accuse the other of collusion with Mr. K.M. Mani who holds the Revenue portfolio. June 19 may see yet another uproar, as the RDO is scheduled to pronounce a verdict on the issue. Going by earlier experiences, whoever loses the case may try to save face by raising the allegation of collusion between the winning party and the Revenue Department. Such a situation, if allowed to continue, may result in more problems for the LDF.
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